Quantcast

Best tubular tires for race day???

mountainpics's picture
Posts
3
Member
134 days
started by mountainpics on May 31, 2008

I am doing an Ironman in August - I did a half in 2004 and used Zipp 404's with Tufo Tubulars and got a flat (had a spare, but it cost me about 4 minutes). Anyone have any suggestions as to the most puncture resistant tubulars on the market? I checked out the Vittoria Triathlon Corsa EVO CS, and they have butyl tubes, which makes them less resistant to slow air loss than latex inner tubes, but apparently, butyl tubes are also more susceptible to puncture than latex, and if I have a pump in the transition area and can pump up that morning before the swim, is there any real advantage (besides that narrower width compared to a regular road tubular)? Any advice? What set up are most people using these days as far as tubulars go?

UFTriGator's picture
Posts
1127
Member
935 days
UFTriGator posted 19 weeks ago.

The most puncture-resistant tubular I can think of is a Vittoria Rally. I would never mount one on a race wheel, though.....way too slow. You'd be negating a good chunk of the aero benefits you'd otherwise be getting from having an aero wheel. I just take the chance of getting a flat. It won't happen often, and a lot of times you can get a flat no matter how "puncture-resistant" your tire is (I've sliced up several Armadillos).

That said, the Vittoria Triathlon has pretty much no protection at all, so I don't use it. I run Vittoria Corsa Evo KS's on both my sets of aero wheels. The guy I shared my homestay with at Memphis in May this year hates them, though. They do leak faster than other tires (I never thought of it being a problem since I just inflate them on race morning). He uses Continental Sprinters instead. I've run those, too.....also very good tires. I'm not a fan of Tufos (and I know a lot of people that feel the same). They just don't ride as nicely as other tires. They're rough, and I've heard that they have a pretty high rolling resistance. I'd go with Vittoria Corsa Evos (not the tri ones...the KS model has the lowest rolling resistance after those) or some Conti Sprinters, Conti Competitions, etc. (not the Conti Podiums....they're a lot like the Vittoria Triathlons).

______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.

mountainpics's picture
Posts
3
Member
134 days
mountainpics posted 19 weeks ago.

Thanks for the info - Currently have Vittoria Corsa EVO CX's on the ZIpp's, but was planning on getting a new pair (have trained a few times on the CX's and want a brand new tire for race day), so I may check out the KS's. Appreciate your input

UFTriGator's picture
Posts
1127
Member
935 days
UFTriGator posted 19 weeks ago.

The CX's are very similar to the KS. The CX's have a slightly higher rolling resistance, but are usable in the rain (KS's kind of aren't). That should be pretty self explanatory after looking at each tire's tread pattern, though. Good luck.

______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.

Anton's picture
Posts
2833
Member
1318 days
Anton posted 19 weeks ago.

Never had a problem with Conti Comps. Great tire.
Have had Tufo and punctured on race day too...that stuff you squirt in the tube to stop flats didn't work for me. I use em for training now...feel that's all they're good for.

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com

xc800runner's picture
Posts
176
Member
272 days
xc800runner posted 19 weeks ago.

I have Tufo Giro Twix that I use for road racing and training and have never had a problem. They're super smooth, and awesome in wet. Have about 1k miles on my current set glued to Bonti Race X Lites and have only needed to re-inflate once in 2 months. They seem to be pretty good when it comes to punctures too. I've hit just about everything in Chicago and still rolling perfectly.
I have tufo elites on my TT wheels, partially because they're blue to match my frame, but mostly because they're absurdly light and fast. Better than the vittorias I've ridden.
You may also want to check into the Conti GP 4000's. I had a set of 3000 clinchers on an old road bike that rolled beautifully, and I can only imagine the feel of riding them in tubular form. Never punctured with the 3000's.

jerallen's picture
Posts
116
Member
720 days
jerallen posted 19 weeks ago.

I love my Corsa KS, I found my set on ebay for 50 bucks for a brand new pair. I ride em on on my zipp 606 set.

jbird2131's picture
Posts
182
Member
412 days
jbird2131 posted 19 weeks ago.

second the conti comps. so far so good for me-- great tires!

mountainpics's picture
Posts
3
Member
134 days
mountainpics posted 19 weeks ago.

ok- so if I do the Conti Comps, should I do the 19mm's or 22mm's? Will one be more puncture resistant than the other? (I know the 19's will have less rolling resistance)

UFTriGator's picture
Posts
1127
Member
935 days
UFTriGator posted 19 weeks ago.

Actually, I've been seeing stuff lately that says narrower tires DON'T necessarily have a lower rolling resistance. Obviously a 22mm tire is going to be faster than a 35mm tire, but the 22mm tire might also be faster than the 19 as well. I'm not sure about the physics on this one, but I've heard it more than one place (sorry, no link). Super-thin tires are more of a track-racing thing (just like running your tires at 160+ psi.....there's a sweet spot for road riding at about 130 psi depending on your weight.....just like a sweet spot in tire size at about 21-22mm to optimize rolling resistance).

Generally, a thinner tire will be more prone to pinch flats, but because you're running tubulars, this really isn't a concern.

Most aero wheels are designed to have the best drag numbers with the thinnest tire. I know that Zipps are actually optimized for a 21mm tire. I don't know what kind of wheels you have. If you have Zipps, I'd say 100% use the 22mm.

The 22s will be more supple. This could help dampen road vibration and help save your legs, especially if the road is rough.

I'd bet that if you were able to run both back-to-back, you'd say the 19s were faster--partly due to the fact that you'd have to run them at a higher pressure (which doesn't make them faster....just makes the ride rougher and creates the feeling of being faster). However, I'd bet that the lower rolling resistance and comfort of the 22s would outweigh an aero loss compared to the 19s (assuming you're not running Zipps). I'd go with 22s either way.

______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.

sav's picture
Posts
1
Member
32 days
sav posted 4 weeks ago.

I have a connected question if I may?

I have Zipp 404 wheels. Conti Sprinter tubulars.

2 flats in two months ! One in the middle of UK 70.3 race. I was not happy !

Am I unlucky? Yep.

But I also wonder whether I am not gluing / taping correctly. My pet theory - and this is what I would appreciate comment on - is that I get a tear between bottom of valve and the tyre. This may be caused by movement of the tyre during racing along the rim, but as the valve is fixed in its "socket" there is tension between valve and tyre. Eventually the tyre tears at the point where the rubber connects to the metal valve. Maybe better gluing would reduce any movement. And maybe an even higher psi would reduce movement also?

Anyone comment on this? Heard of it before? Am I just unlucky?

Am getting worried to do long training runs now in case I get a puncture !